County clears hurdles for Country Feed Barn's expansion

After a lengthy yearlong dispute over curbs, gutters and sidewalks, a longtime Inyokern business owner is moving forward with finalizing the opening a second storefront.

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

INYOKERN — After a lengthy yearlong dispute over curbs, gutters and sidewalks, a longtime Inyokern business owner is moving forward with finalizing the opening a second storefront.Leroy Marquardt received the go-ahead from the county planning to open Country Feed Barn's antique shop following a March 21 county public hearing in Bakersfield."We won the curbs, gutter and sidewalk battle," Marquardt said outside his shop Tuesday afternoon.He said the only thing standing between him and opening up his second shop – an antique store across from his iconic 3rd Street business – is the requirement to put in a blacktop driveway entrance to the property lot.Kern County Planning and Community Development Director Lorelei Oviatt confirmed the removal of the previous restrictions Tuesday."He is free to finish up a few small things he still needs to do and he can get occupancy," Oviatt said over the phone.She said upon further review of the case, she gave her recommendation waive the requirements for curbs, gutters and sidewalks along the business.The initial issue dates back over a year when Marquardt requested that provisions in Kern County's ordinances that required sidewalks to better deter floodwater and storm runoff.Marquardt's response was noted in an Oct. 4, 2011 county planning commission report: There was no need for any of the conditions, especially given other areas such as the Inyokern Community Services District and Inyokern Elementary School lacked similar structures.County staff's recommendation was based in part on the subject property being subject to flooding from the Little Dixie Wash and the Indian Wells alluvial fan and recommended additional improvements be made to deter any excessive flooding, according to the report.Marquardt stood his ground, consistently advocating his shop and Inyokern in general did not warrant such classifications as required by the county's ordinance.Fast forward to April 2013 and Marquardt is making plans to lay down the remaining required drive approach."For them to admit that Inyokern doesn't need curbs, gutters or sidewalks for certain areas is a positive," Marquardt said.He said he didn't expect much else from the county in way of delaying the opening of his second shop, already full of antiques and ready to go."It's good that it got to the point where some got the point that those requirements weren't needed," he said, referring to the county planner.Marquardt, who has lived in the valley for decades, said he had some people ask when the building opened up and the constant delay with the county."Some people don't understand how persistent you have to be some times," he said. "Just screaming and hollering and stomping in the dirt doesn't solve anything."In the mean time he expects the construction to begin and be finished in a matter of weeks and the doors thrown open."The way I look at it is that a win for me is a win for Inyokern," Marquardt said.